TELL US ABOUT YOU

TBW: What or who inspired you to start writing?



TF:  When I was eight I read a series of books by a British author named Enid Blyton.  The series was called "The Enchanted Woods".  I was so excited about the stories that I wanted to create my own.  So I did. I wrote my first novel when I was eleven. It's called, The Fabulous Four, Dognapping in Chestnut Village.​



TBW: What's your writing process?



TF: I write the shell of the story (without an outline).  When the story is finished I go back and give my characters quirks and personality.  Then I go back again and punch up my verbs and dialogue.  Then I breathe a sigh of relief because it's over. Then I cry because it's over. Writers have bipolar personalities.​



TBW: How important is social media to your work?



TF: VERY important.  Without Goodreads or Facebook I would have never been found.  Thank you, Goodreads!  I work hard at creating an online presence on Facebook.  It's important to be accessible and amusing.  Who wants to read a book written by a bore?​

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TBW: Do you recommend or prefer to work with a publishing house over self-publishing?

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TF: The two are very different.  What's important to remember is that traditional publishing isn't necessarily your choice.  The book market is shrinking and with that the publishing houses are having to be especially choosy with who they publish.  I was turned away dozens of times by traditional publishing.  I self published because it was the only option left to me.  it takes a lot of work to self publish.  You have to do all the marketing yourself.  You risk your manuscript having endless errors because you don't have a team of professionals working on it.  However, if you like to maintain control of your work, self publishing is the way to go.  You'll reach a much smaller audience and you'll have to do all the work yourself, but you'll never having anyone telling you what to write and when to write and how to write.​

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TBW: What advice would you give those that want to publish their work?



TF: Try traditional. Research agents  Write a winning query letter...wait.  if that doesn't work, look into Amazon's amazing program for authors.​







THE BOOK

TBW: Where did you get the idea for The Opportunist?



TF: I was daydreaming in Starbucks, actually. I was considering how memory loss would affect chemistry.  I decided to write a book about my questions.​



TBW: Do you see any qualities of your characters in yourself?



TF: Oh yes. I tried to create very human characters. I wanted the reader to see shadows of their own human nature in Olivia and Caleb. I definitely see myself in them. I run like Olivia. I am afraid of making myself vulnerable and getting hurt. I am cocky like Caleb. I am always surprised when someone does not love me. 

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TBW: What was the inspiration behind developing a character like Olivia Kaspen?



TF: When I sat down to start writing, I said to myself, "you can tell a story about another predictable do-gooder, or  you can write about what happens when a villain falls in love."  I find my own flaws very interesting.  I usually fall in love with other people's flaws.  It was a challenge making you feel for Olivia through all of hers.  ​

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TBW: If offered a movie deal would you accept? If so, who would play the main characters?



TF:  Who doesn't want a movie deal? Truth is, I would want to be involved. Movies always get butchered when the author isn't involved.  I see Natalie Dormer as Olivia.  She has that cute puckered mouth that is always frowning. She's sexy and exotic without being traditionally beautiful. Caleb should be an unknown actor.  So long as he has a good nose, I don't care.​

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TBW: I understand book two, Dirty Red, is in the works. Will Dirty Red make us love Leah Smith or continue hating her?



TF: You will have similar feelings to those you had in The Opportunist. If I can't make you like her, perhaps you will feel some empathy for her.​







TELL US ABOUT YOUR NEXT STEPS

TBW:  Are you currently working on another series?  If so, can you share the premise for what it will be about?



TF: Well, after the Love Me With Lies series, I will put out the YA I've been writing. I am VERY excited about the premise. I also just thought up a new book idea this week. I think it will garner a larger following than The Opportunist.  I am so impressed with myself, I've been grinning for two days.



TBW: Is there anything you would like to try or do with writing that you will work on in the near future?



TF:  I want to collaborate a book with a friend of mine who always has the best ideas. If he doesn't want to collaborate, I might just steal his idea.  I've done it before. [just joking]